Javid Basharat Defends Brother Farid After UFC Release

Javid Basharat says his brother Farid Basharat found out about his UFC release the same way everyone else did, after going 7-0 inside the Octagon without ever being offered a new contract.

Farid Basharat (16-0) finished out his UFC deal without a renewal on the table, a decision that drew scrutiny given his unbeaten run with the promotion. The subject came up at the UFC Edmonton post-fight press conference, where UFC CEO Dana White was asked why a fighter with that kind of record wasn't retained. White suggested there were factors beyond Farid's performances behind the non-renewal but stopped short of naming anything specific.

Farid pushed back on that framing directly. "A lot of assumptions made, but no facts were said," Farid wrote. "I definitely wasn't turning down fights."

What Does Javid Basharat Say Happened With Contract Talks?

Javid Basharat, whose own UFC deal went unrenewed back in February, says there were no contract discussions at all before his brother got cut. "I can vouch that no fights were turned down nor were we hard to deal with as a matter of fact we have never had a conversation with regard to renewing the contract," Javid wrote. "We patiently waited 3 months and we found out when everyone else found out!"

That timeline matters. Three months of silence followed by a release announced without warning is a very different story than a fighter ducking matchups, and it puts Javid and Farid's account directly at odds with White's suggestion that something else was in play. Neither side has pointed to a specific incident, so the dispute currently comes down to White's vague characterization against the brothers' flat denial.

Betting Angle

A 7-0 UFC run with no contract renewal is the kind of story that usually ends with a fighter resurfacing on another major promotion's card within a few months, and bantamweight depth outside the UFC has been building. Until Farid Basharat lands his next fight there's no line to speak of, but a fighter with an unbeaten record and a finishing instinct figures to draw quick interest from oddsmakers once a promotion and opponent are set. For now this is a roster and credibility story, not a betting one, but it's worth tracking where Farid lands given how short his odds would likely open as a debutant with that kind of record.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why did the UFC release Farid Basharat?

Farid Basharat completed his UFC contract and was not offered a new deal despite going 7-0 in the promotion; UFC CEO Dana White suggested factors beyond his results were involved but did not specify what they were.

What did Javid Basharat say about his brother's UFC exit?

Javid Basharat said he and Farid Basharat never discussed a contract renewal with the UFC, waited three months without word, and found out about the release at the same time as the public.

What is Farid Basharat's professional MMA record?

Farid Basharat is 16-0 as a professional, having gone 7-0 during his run in the UFC.